Page 54 of Sidelined By Love

She spins again and looks right into my face. Her eyes have taken on the same color as her sweater, greener than a forest. “You’re like a genuinely decent guy, and you’re helping me out even though there’s nothing in it for you.”

No need to remind her about Kenna. Because something is glowing inside my chest.

“And I didn’t mean to draw you into my mess, and my dad is legitimately ticked off. And I’ve got to fix this whole thing. And I’m pretty sure I can. But I wanted you to know before my publicist leaks it to the press that we ran into each other on the Incline by accident. And you played the hero when my shoe broke. And that’s it. It was all just a wild coincidence.”

As she rattles off her monologue—almost as though memorized—her voice rises, a tiny tremor in the center of her bottom lip shaking her word.

“We haven’t been hanging out. And you certainly haven’t been helping me prepare for the audition. And we can’t be seen in public together again. Maybe ever. So, it’s probably better if we don’t spend any more time together. Or else the media will make this into something it’s not.”

Perhaps I’m imagining it, but she sounds almost on the verge of tears by the time she gets to the end, and I could swear her eyes have taken on a glassy sheen.

“Zo?” I reach for her hand, but she tucks it under her other arm, holding herself close.

“I don’t know why I’m so upset.” She stares toward the vaulted ceiling, blinking hard enough to dislodge a single tear that leaves a silver trail in its wake. I reach to wipe it away, but her knuckle beats me to it. With a gentle sniff, she sets herself right. “It’s not like we have something going on here.”

Forget Thor’s hammer, this knocks me down like the snap of Thanos’s fingers. I’m gone. Dust.

I don’t know exactly what’s happening between us. But whatever it is, it’s not nothing. I’ve been fighting it tooth and nail for weeks. And I’m losing. Every second. Of every day.

Because all I want is to be in her life. And for Zoe Peebles to be in mine.

And she doesn’t even know there’s something going on.

“My publicist should release the statement,” I blurt out. “Yours has been playing defense for a while. Mine can just say we’re good friends, and we were enjoying the Colorado air when your shoe broke. End of story. No one will question it.”

“Why would you do that?”

Stabbing my fingers through my hair, I spit out the truth. “Because I like you.”

Her perfect white teeth nibble at the corner of her mouth. “You just don’t want tokissme.”

My mouth goes completely dry, and my words come out like they’re raked across gravel. “Like hell I don’t.”

Zoe’s eyes grow rounder and brighter, and her mouth slips open. I can’t stop myself. Grabbing her waist, I pull her against me, pressing my lips to hers. She stumbles into me, bracing her hands against my chest, and for a split second, I’m afraid she’s going to push me away. Steeling myself for that inevitability, I freeze, already forming the apology in my mind.

Only, she doesn’t. Push me away, that is.

Quite the opposite. She twists her fingers into the front of my T-shirt and pulls me closer, pressing onto her tiptoes to meet me in the middle.

Her touch is fire, her hand sinking into my hair and setting my scalp aflame. And my only hope for survival is more of Zoe.

I adjust my angle, and she lets out a groan, deep and pained. Not the kind of pain like she’s injured. The kind that asks that ever-important question. Why did we wait so long for this?

Probably because I’m the biggest idiot and a complete coward.

Probably because I had some idea that kissing her would implode my entire life. I just didn’t know how immediately I would be addicted to this particular brand of TNT.

But no one can make me care about any of that when Zoe is literally in my arms and kissing me like she might never quit.

Sounds like a solid plan.

My fingers walk the path of her spine, sending shivers through her, and I savor every single one. With an arm around her waist, I dig my fingers into her hip. Chicken on a biscuit, she’s tiny. She has such a big personality, so much life pouring out of her that it’s easy to overlook. But I can wrap my arms more than around her waist. And I can already feel the strain in my neck from leaning over so far.

Don’t get me wrong, totally worth it.

But maybe there’s a better position.

I mentally survey the living room and cross off the couch. No way am I going there on our first kiss. The coffee table won’t be any help either.

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